Padlock



April 1951 A. I-IOLAN 2,550,655

I FADLOCK 7 Filed April 29, 1948 megs-sheet 1 INVENTOR- A/vrHo/w HOLAN HTTORNEY April 9 A. HOLAN 2,550,655

' L PADLOCK Filed April 29 1948 I: Sheets-Sheet 2 i i i 'INVENTOR:

6 60, db c. 5 6 IINTHONY HOLAN ATTORNEY Patented Apr; 24, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE j PADLOOK Anthony Holan, London, England Application April 29, 1948, Serial No. 23,934

2 Claims.

ticularly, although not essentially concerned with locks of the padlock type.

One object of the present invention i to provide an improved lock which is simple in construction, easy to assemble and therefore inexpensive to manufacture and which is also efllcient and durable in use. A further object of the invention is to provide a lock wherein the characteristics of interlocking members can be varied as desired to enable a large range of locks covering different combinatiOIlS to be manufactured.

According to the present invention, there is provided an improved lock which comprises a hollow casing within which are slidably mounted a series of locking plates or bars which, in a locking' position, are urged into engagement with recesses formed in a shackle, hasp or the equivalent extending into the casing, and which are individually displaceable by the insertion of a particular key into the casing to draw said plates or bars out of locking engagement with the shackle, hasp or the equivalent to permit the latter to be withdrawn sufliciently from the casing so as to occupy an inoperative position.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate two embodiments of the invention byway of example.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the lock of one embodiment but showing the casing in section so as to expose the internal mechanism.

Figure '2 is a section taken on the line II--II of Figure 1.

Figure'3 is a transverse section of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a front elevation of another embodimen't but showing the front part of the easing-removed to expose the internal mechanism.

Figure 5 is a section taken on the line VV of Figure 4, and

Figure 6 is a transverse section taken on the lines 6a6a, 6b-6b, and 6c6c respectively of Figure 5.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings the lock casing 5 comprises two shallow box-like parts I and 2 the part I being adapted to be telescoped over,- the part 2 so that a space is enclosed between them when they are fitted together. These box-like parts l and 2 may be made as pressings and the free edge la of the outer part may be turned over on to a ledge 2a on the other part 2 when the internal fittings have been assembled so as to prevent separation of the box-like parts I and 2 and so avoid the mechanism within the casing being tampered with. As will hereinafter be apparent, separation of the two parts I and Z is also prevented by the parallel limbs 3 of a shackle orhasp 4 which extends into the casing through an end wall or top of the casing when the lock is viewed vertically, and for the purpose of description it will be assumed that the lock is viewed in this position. I

Disposed within the casing are a plurality of horizontally disposed slidable locking plates or bars 5 which are spring loaded and, with the lock in use, extend at their ends into recesses 6 formed in the limbs 3 of the hasp 4 which extends into the casing. The arrangement is such that each locking plate or bar 5 is capable of engaging at one end in a corresponding recess 6 in one arm of the hasp-or shackle and at its other end in a corresponding recess in the other arm of the shackle and thus will set the shackle free only in one particular position in which bothends of the locking plate 5 are disengaged with both corresponding recesses in the shackle arms 3. These particular positions vary with each locking plate 5 according to the settin of the lock and all the locking plates are only brought into the correct free ositions by inserting the right key.

The above arrangement may comprise a one way disposition wherein all the locking plate are, by means of springs, urged in one direction, or the arrangement may be staggered in which each alternative plate is urged in a different direction.

In the first case the key has a profile on one edge only but in the staggered alternative the key has a profile on-both edges.

It will be appreciated that the direction of movement of the locking plates 5 can be made spaced slightly away from the front and rear walls of the casing, the space at the front of the casing accommodating the limbs of springs for loading the plates 5. In effect, the locking plates 5 bridge the two supporting plates 8 and 9 with the longitudinal edges of the locking plates 5 sliding in the slots 1. v

The locking plates 5 are formed with slots or openings for the reception of a key II which can be inserted through an opening I2 provided in the bottom wall l3 of the casing. This key is substantially fiat or it may as shown in the drawings be cranked or bent at [4 so that parts thereof are contained in parallel planes. One advantage of cranking the key Ii is that should anyone attempt to file one key to make it fit'another lock, the key would be parted and rendered useless. One or both of the longitudinal edges Ila of the key H are cam shaped or profiled to follow any required outline so that when the key H is slid into the lock the parts of the key which correspond with the locking plates 5 will move the latter to disengage their ends from the recesses 6 provided in the limbs :3 of the hasp 4, it being appreciated that the openings IE] in the locking plates 5 assume a sta gered relationship when the plates are in a locking position. Thesprings .for loading the locking plates may conveniently comprise wire torsion springs l5 with the end 18 of one spring entering the space at the front of the casing :and engaging :against the end of one plate '5 and the other end lli of the spring engaging against the opposite end of an adjacent plate 5. Thus, with the present embodiment utilising four locking plates-'5, two load- :ing springs are employed provided respectively at the :tOp and :bottom of the casing.

'The limbs 3 of the shackle or hasp 4 and also the stem of the key .II are guided within the casing through .suitably shaped openings "I I in two guiding and distance plates 18 located Zone :in the upper part of the casing above the locking plates 5 andthe other in the lower part of the casing below the locking plates '5. It will be seen that by fully inserting the key H by sliding it into the casing all the locking plates :5 .are displaced to free their ends from engagement with the recesses 6 in .the limbs 3 of the hasp 4 and the latter is then free to be withdrawn.

Although it is not essential, it is preferred to form the key with the cranked part or profile M in cross section 'as this renders greater the number-of combinations which may be obtained in conjunction with the profiling of the two longitudinal edges of the key. The step or profile I4 in the key formed by cranking runs :longitudinally along the full or partial length of the key. ;In this manner a great number of combinations is possible by varying the key profiles and the cranking of the key"5, it being appreciated of .course that the slots 6 in the locking plates :5 and distance or guiding plates [8 are formed accordingly.

The recesses '6 in the limbs 3 of the hasps maybe made in opposed faces of said limbs but alternatively said recesses may be made in the :front or back faces as clearly shown in Figure 2 of the drawings as this would enable greater -movement of the locking plates 5 than is the case when the recesses are formed in opposed faces thereof.

Gne limb 3 of the hasp 4 is made longer than ithe -other limb'so that the shorterlimb may be completely withdrawn from the casing and the hasp rotated about the axis of the longer limb avhich-isstill retained with a part disposed withjnthe :casing.

To prevent this longer limb of the hasp beling completely withdrawn from the casing, the lower end of the limb may the formed with a short axial bore for accommodating a U shaped leaf spring or wire spring l9 having a laterally directed limb 26 on one side which is adapted to project through an opening 2!. When initially assembling the lock the limb 20 of the spring is pressed inwards and the longer limb can then be passed through the top wall of the casing. When the lower end of the longer limb enters the casing the spring will reassert itself automatically to urge the limb 2% through the opening 2! and this limb 28 thereafter acts as an abutment which engages against the underside of the top of the casing when the hasp ii is pulled .out to free the shorter limb 3. Thus while the shorter limb of the hasp can be withdrawn from the casing the longer limb is held against com- :plete withdrawal by the limb or abutment 20 of the spring 9. The distance plates 18 are formed with openings for the key so as to act as wards and also with openings Ida for the limbs 3 "of. the hasp and these openings liia have portions 1822 for receiving therethrough the abutment 20.

Alternatively, to prevent the longer limb of the hasp 1 being completely withdrawn from the casing it may (according to a modification not illustrated) be formed a short distance above its lower end with an inwardly directed projection which is free to slide through the recesses or slots itb formed in the distance plates 18. When the hasp 4 is moved upwardly in the casing to free its shorter limb, the said projection abuts against the underside of the top wall of the casing and the opening in said top wall through which the longer limb passes and also the opening in the upper guiding plate constitutes two searing surfaces for the limb of the hasp when it is rotated about its axis. The hole in the top wall of thecasing is formed with an extended slot through which the projection may be passed when assembling and after the hasp is fitted this hole is plugged to prevent withdrawal of the longer limb. Both arrangements allow for the insertion of the hasp d after all the assembling operations of the lock are completed.

According to a modified form of the invention, the slotted supporting plates 8 and 9 for the locking plates 5 maybe dispensed with and the walls of the casing themselves formed with pressed out grooves in which .the longitudinal edges of the locking plates 5 may slide. 'In this case, the springs loading the plates are accommodated in slots formed in the plates 5.

The corners of the recesses in the limbs of the hasp may be rounded or tapered to avoid any edging or resistance to the plates sliding into the recesses. During assembly, when :inserting the back and front slotted plates 8 and 9 and the upper and lower guide plates It, the locking plates 5 can be slipped through the slots in the front plate 9 and the springs l5 slipped over from outside the assembled parts.

Referring next to the embodiment illustrated .in Figures 4 to =6, the arrangement here is similar to that already described with reference to Figures 1 to '3 but shows a different-form of easing which can be made up as a pressing or stamping to facilitate assembly. Also these figures show another method of supporting the springs for loading the locking plates 5.

According to these figures, the casing comprises two parts 22 and 23, the part .22 being formed with a ledge :24 .over which can be .en- :gaged a marginal 'fiange or :tongue 25. :When

the part 23 is origin-ally pressed the marginal z'iange is directed as shown in chain-dotted lines in Figure 5 so that it will readily fit over the ledge 24 so that when the various parts of the lock are assembled the flange 25 can be bent in over the ledge 24 to lock the two parts of the casing together.

In this embodiment the two supporting plates 8 and 9 used previously are dispensed with, and

, (see Fig. 4) is held against complete withdrawal from the casing by a projection 28 on the lower end of the limb 3a which abuts against the underside of the roof of the casing. Across the key slot of the casing there is placed a key guide plate 29 having a slot therein to accommodate the key and guide it upward inside the casing.

Whilst the various components may be made as metal stampings it will be appreciated that they can be made up as castings if desired.

Although the invention has been described as employing a sliding key, the latter may, if

desired, be turned when inserted to effect the necessary displacement of the locking plates.

I claim: 1. In a padlock, the combination of, a casing,

a shackle having two limbs the free ends of which are slidably accommodated in said casing, each of said limbs having an equal number of transverse grooves therein, the grooves in one of said limbs being in the same plane as the grooves in the other limb, a series of spaced parallel slidable locking plates positioned inside said casing so that each plate can engage corresponding grooves in said limbs, individual spring members inside said casing arranged and positioned to separately urge alternate locking plates in opposite directions, said spring members normally maintaining said plates in staggered relation to \each other, each of said plates having a key receiving slot therein adapted to receive a key for displacing and freeing said plates from engagement with said grooves.

2. A padlock as recited in claim 1 in which each of said plates is loaded by means of an individual coiled compression spring.

ANTHONY HOLAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,411,280 Junkunc Apr. 4, 1922 2,044,529 Hite June 16, 1936 2,136,654 North Nov. 15, 19 38 

